More Is Not Enough: A Deeper Understanding of the COVID-19 Impacts on Healthcare, Energy and Environment Is Crucial

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has magnified the insufficient readiness of humans in dealing with such an unexpected occurrence. During the pandemic, sustainable development goals have been hindered severely. Various observations and lessons have been highlighted to emphasise local impacts on a single region or single sector, whilst the holistic and coupling impacts are rarely investigated. This study overviews the structural changes and spatial heterogeneities of changes in healthcare, energy and environment, and offers perspectives for the in-depth understanding of the COVID-19 impacts on the three sectors, in particular the cross-sections of them. Practical observations are summarised through the broad overview. A novel concept of the healthcare–energy–environment nexus under climate change constraints is proposed and discussed, to illustrate the relationships amongst the three sectors and further analyse the dynamics of the attention to healthcare, energy and environment in view of decision-makers. The society is still on the way to understanding the impacts of the whole episode of COVID-19 on healthcare, energy, environment and beyond. The raised nexus thinking could contribute to understanding the complicated COVID-19 impacts and guiding sustainable future planning.

Changes in the Comprehensiveness of Rural Medical Care for Older Japanese Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In addition, ICT usage is beneficial for increasing the scope and availability of medical services; our findings indicate that it might be practical in rural areas. Many medical facilities in urban areas have started using ICT to communicate with distant patients [35,36]. Metropolitan areas and hospitals might be best suited to use ICT to effectively prevent infections [37,38].…”

COVID-19 pandemics Stage II – Energy and environmental impacts of vaccination

“…Klemeš et al [ 11 ] analysed the surge of waste issues at the beginning of pandemics. Jiang et al [ 17 ] overviewed the structural changes of global waste generation during pandemics. During the vaccination process, waste treatment and management in terms of vaccine waste collection, treatment, recycling, and energy recovery seem to be more challenging.…”

“…However, there are also strong impacts on sustainable waste management [ 12 ] and energy consumption and generation [ 13 ], as well as notable on the increased energy demand to lead the struggle with infection [ 14 ]. In the current phase, some studies also reviewed the impacts of COVID-19 on multiple sectors, such as renewable energy and the environment [ 15 ], the short- and long-term energy and the environment [ 16 ], and the healthcare, energy and environment [ 17 ]. Now the war with the virus entered is the second offensive stage, which can hopefully bring the world population closer to epidemic defeat ─ mainly vaccination.…”

The Impact of COVID-19 on Electricity Demand Profiles: A Case Study of Selected Business Clients in Poland

“…In these studies, authors review various changes in healthcare in different countries and their impact on the energy sector and environment. They present conclusions on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these three sectors regarding climate change and the change in environmental emissions to which also healthcare has contributed [35].…”

“…Undoubtedly, new practices and social behaviors acquired during the pandemic influenced the need for electricity and its consumption. It has been proven that even though general demand for electricity during the pandemic decreases, quantitative and time differences are complex, and the return to usual consumption in various regions is not equivalent [36].…”